Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-10
SlOJO.
A system OF Teaching that Has Proved
succe,sful In sweden.

up they mus: be taught how to be
useful while they are young. How TINS
is done in Sweden may be learned from
an interesting account of sloJd teach
ing published in an appendix to the
! technical instruction commissioners
second report.
Slojd. or handwork, is the art OF
using ordinary implements-such as a
knife, saw, hammer, or paint
brush. Mr.. Squecrs seems to have had
some shadowy notion OF this system.
Clean clean. w-,-n-d-e-r window;
now 90 and clean it," said that prac-
teal person. Sojd teaching is TO tech
nical instruction what liberal edu-
cation is to professional training IL
is valued, not only as the first step
toward learning trade. but also As
train ne for the faculties. Apprecia-
ton of form, proper value OF time
and method, neatnest Of manipulation,
and habits of industry and self-reliance
are some Of the blessings with which
it is credited Enthusiasts, moreover,
hope that by including manual work
amongtordinary school subjects bodily
labor may in time be raised from the
low esteem where it too often lies.
Sloid was invented by one Uno
Cygnnus, + mn, who, after qualify ing
in several hand crafts, became "A school,
master, and was commissioned to draw
up a report, on which the Finnish
system of government schools is based.
In Sweden his system was copied some
fifteen years ago, and it has there
spread SO rapidly that in many of the
common schools slojd forms part Of the
regular course. Those who view
"handwork" merely As a training for
the faculties confine their teaching TO
simple work in wood But those who
value it also as subs diary to technical
instruction teach slojd in many branch
es, and carry it beyond the use Of the
simplest tools Bookb nd ne, tinker
ing, smiths work, painting, basket
max NJ, shoemaking, and tailoring
are among their subjects; and they
spare no effort TO make the system at
tractive to pupils and parents. AT
some schools pupils are allowed TO
keep what they have made, or TO buy
it cheaply; or, to secure continuous at
tendance, they are credited with de-
ferrcd pay, which they forfeit b.. leav-
ing before stipulated course has been
completed. On completion of the
course the pupil is presented with a
bank book representing his accumulat-
ed earnings, and receives a parting
counsel to increase them.
The parents sympathy is also angled
for. AZ a school in Il laboring district
it is a rule that pupils shall be taught
TO make and use such common nipple
mentS "a are most serviceable TO work
ing pcople-rakes, spades aX-haoiles
, and the like. A~siduou~ young thinkers
taiors, and shoemakers are allowed
the use of school implements TO make
the family repairs, and thus exists in
Sweden the phenomenon of self-re-
pairing boy, who mends his own rain.
ent and cobbes his own shoes.
As to the best recipe for making a
slojd teacher experts differ. Some take
an artisan aud teach him pedagogy:
others prefer to give schoolmaster a
short training as an artisan. Both par
ties agree that the instruction must be
given nationally, and not by rule of
thumb; and on this principle series of
models have been prepared and courses
OF method cal instruction are pre-
scr.bed. Joiners. for instance. pro-
gress gradually from a flower pot stick
TO table or wardrobe: whittlers from
'sausage-pegs' to jumping jacks" and
various animals. and the other crafts
men in like manner.
In Sweden, in NORWAY, and in Fin
land the system has proved mo st sue
cessful There seems no rca son why
it should not be introduced and become
equally successful here. The taste
among non-laboring classes for llsing
implements is universal. Too often,
however, the hands that guide the inn
plements are rattle r Jealous than skill
ful. But if schools taught sloid these
manual shortcomings would be RENE
died. The tool-chest, now Pando-
ra's box of vii, bringing terror 10 pa
rental bosoms and imprecations on the
donor, would become a blessing. In
stead of amputating chair-legs or stud
ding the furniture with tn tacks. its
skilled po'sessor would do the family's
odd jobs. The penknife found in the
pocket OF every schoolboy but Macau-
lays would white and carve under
due supervision, to the advantage of
the school fittings and its owners fin
gers. Adults would cease to slice their
faces in vain attempts to shave them
selves; and to the adept in slojd the
opening OF meat-tin or sardne box
would not mean lock law IL TO the